Altering the Future

ESCABIOS – ALTERING THE FUTURE

Back in the late 80´s and early 90´s, Argentina was full of impressive death metal acts; Exterminio, Gastre, Reino Sangriento, Vibrion, Schizophrenia and Escabios (just to pick a few of them).

Escabios can be defined as a Death/thrash band more inclined towards the death metal style with occasional thrash riffs thrown in. 1994´s “Altering The Future” is the band’s second full length album and it shows a better production than the first one; “Necesidad Extrema”.

In this album we can notice the usage of blast beats (not all the time), a decent quantity of riffs (80 or 90 on the whole album) and growled vocals reminiscent from Carcass on any of the first two albums.

What they do – they do it right. Efficient thrashy death metal relying on the primitive aggression of the drums and the guitars altogether blending.
Songs like “Condemned By The System”, “Mirror To Madness” and “Out Of Reality” are effective and well-crafted numbers, even though a bit repetitive and generic.
“State Of Mind” is more mid-paced and catchy. The absolute highlight is the title track which is the bringer of thrashy motherfucking riffs…. Malevolent Creation nods in acceptance as Sadus headbangs to this tune.

“State Aggression” comes in a close second as to the best song on the album; after the intro come the riffs and a riffs / drums sequence and at 1:18, HOLY FUCKING MICKEY MOUSE LISTENING TO EXHORDER! Comes the best mid-break I’ve ever heard from this band so far, in quite a doomy and dense fashion. The last tune, “Holiday In Cambodia”, is a cover from the Dead Kennedys and serves rightly as a pretty decent closer.

Conclusion: It’s hard to find this tuff. But if you are a death/thrash maniac and happen to stumble across this album. Then purchase it, because it’s actually pretty good.